This pastor nourishes his community, spiritually and physically
One kind pastor took everything he learned and extended it to his congregation, allowing the whole community to thrive!
A bright green monster hat sits cheerfully atop Katembo Mihimba Justin’s head as he walks among the rows of sweet potatoes he once believed would never grow.
In this rural corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo, this father, pastor, and farmer now beams as he inspects thriving crops that were once withering away in dry, lifeless soil.
Before this, Justin had been part of several food security projects, but none ever yielded much fruit—literally or figuratively. Although he was dedicated, the land remained stubbornly barren. Then he heard about a new initiative from another pastor, and decided to try one more time. He couldn’t have predicted what was about to unfold.
“When this project arrived, it changed everything for me,” Justin said. “It taught us how to make our soil fertile again.”
Through Tearfund-supported training at his local church, Justin learned new techniques: crop cover, reduced tillage, anti-erosion steps on sloped fields, proper fertilizer use—all practices rooted in creation care and long-term sustainability. “Look at my field,” he gestured proudly. “It used to produce nothing. But now, I’ve planted sweet potatoes and even bananas. It is fertile again!”
With his revitalized land, Justin is now able to provide for his family in ways he never thought possible. “Because of this project, I can now pay for my children’s school,” he shares. “And I’ve even been able to keep livestock.”
However, the path has not been without obstacles.
In his region, shifting climate patterns are intensifying. Rainy and dry seasons are no longer predictable, and hailstorms sometimes ravage entire harvests. What’s worse, rising tensions have unfolded as local chiefs sell land to wealthy outsiders, sowing division among communities who feel dispossessed. And amid these pressures, food security remains under threat.
Even so, Justin sees how God is moving.
“Despite these challenges, I’ve learned so much through this project while continuing in my role as a pastor. Now, I teach my church members not just how to live spiritually, but how to earn a living with dignity.”
Now, Justin has a broader view of his calling. Being a pastor means not only teaching a congregation about the love of God, but also living out that love.
“If I only taught them about spirituality, they might remain vulnerable to sin. Even a faithful person might be tempted—like stealing—just to survive.”
Justin now seeks to serve his congregation holistically, using the gifts that God has given him to help others. This is God’s love in action.
Tearfund works with local churches to bring sustainable, long-term solutions to those living in poverty. When these churches are equipped to be the hands and feet of Jesus, entire communities begin to thrive again.
It’s because of the generosity of Tearfund’s donors that people like Justin can have renewed hope that extends like a ripple throughout their communities. Thank you!
Will you partner with us in planting seeds of transformation?